Ind. Senate Candidate Embroiled in Pregnancy, Rape Comments

Indiana's state treasurer, Richard Mourdock, who defeated long-time incumbent Richard Lugar for the right to carry the GOP mantle in Indiana's U.S. Senate Race has found himself embroiled in an "Akinesque" type controversy over comments he made about pregnancy and rape.

Mourdock was facing off in a debate against his Democratic opponent Rep. Joe Donnelly when he was asked whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.

"I struggled with in myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God," said Murdock. "And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

The GOP candidate's statements follow those made by Rep. Todd Akin who only days after winning a hotly contested primary Republican primary told a TV reporter that women's bodies are almost always able to prevent pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape."

The Republican National Committee, along with key elected leaders immediately backed away from Akin's campaign, even going as far as to demand he drop out. Akin refused the request and has since waged a competitive battle against incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill in the Show-Me State.

Penny Nance with Concerned Women for America is one of the groups that stood by Akin and plans to stand by Murdock as well.

"I think the entire issue has been blown out of proportion," Nance told The Christian Post Wednesday morning. "The bottom line is that life begins at conception and babies in the womb are completely innocent."

Mourdock quickly tried to clarify his remarks by saying it was "sick" and "bizarre" that his comments would be taken out of context and that he did not say that God intended rape.

"What I said is God creates life. As a person of faith, I believe that."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz who chairs the Democratic National Committee was quick to pounce on Mourdock's statement, saying they were "outrageous and demeaning to women."

Nance, meanwhile, said the uproar about Murdock's comment are nothing more than an attempt by the Donnelly campaign to run from his vote against the unborn.

"Donnelly was one of the Stupac 12 (a group of pro-life Democrats) who gave in to President Obama and voted for his health care plan," Nance said.

"He turned his back on the unborn and besides, abortions resulting from an unintended pregnancy are at only 1 percent of all abortions. If the other side wants to have a debate on limiting abortions and how to improve women's health, then I'm more than happy to have that conversation. The bottom line is no one has to keep a baby they don't want."